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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

OK! magazine.

41 replies

Trixxie89 · 29/09/2011 14:30

I was sitting down with my son watching television and an advert for OK! magazine comes on, I'd usually change the channel as I despise the magazine but today for whatever reason I didn't... I wish I did. One of the girls from The Only Way Is Essex is telling her story of how she aborted her ex-boyfriend's baby. I'm still furious, how can a magazine think that is a good story to tell? Why would anyone want to tell that kind of story? I know the magazine usually sells out on most people but surely that is not the sort of story you'd choose to represent the kind of company you are?

OP posts:
Prolesworth · 29/09/2011 21:31

I caught a glimpse of the OK cover today in the newsagent. Basically you've got a cover photo of Lauren (from TOWIE) doing a sort of sexy smirk with the headline "I ABORTED MARK'S BABY" (or something similar to that - can't remember the exact wording).

You know, I very much doubt that she wrote that headline and nor would she have chosen the photo to go with it. Clearly the magazine's editor(s) want to give the impression that Lauren TOWIE is a heartless btch. I don't know if Lauren TOWIE went along with that or even knew what spin OK were going to put on her story. It's the misogyny in that kind of portrayal of women (heartless btches merrily having abortions to spite their exes) that's the problem from a feminist perspective, I would've thought.

swallowedAfly · 29/09/2011 17:22

i'm a bit lost as to what the feminist element of this is for you OP?

StewieGriffinsMom · 29/09/2011 16:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 29/09/2011 16:49

But it's not the way she's presenting it. It's the way OK are presenting it.

minipie · 29/09/2011 16:49

In what way is it crass and insensitive?

teafanatic003 · 29/09/2011 16:45

teafanatic, what makes you so sure it was to spite her ex? How about the possibility that she wanted women to know it's ok to have abortions, it doesn't make you a bad person?

probably the crass and insensitive way she is presenting it,

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 29/09/2011 16:27

Sparticus, I'm not too clued up on the whole thing... Don't watch TOWIE, watch my TV online, and avoid OK like the plague. But yes, I do feel like the article is a sensitive subject, and perhaps shouldn't have been published with the boyfriend still feeling raw about it.

There is a certain element of me that wonders how much of this was implemented by the editor (Dirty Desmond?) as a bit of sensational tat, thus exploiting the woman in question.

theothersparticus · 29/09/2011 16:13

I haven't read the article in question, but only glanced at the cover. I don't like the fact OK! is glamourising (sp?) the fact that her boyfriend wanted to ban what the interview from being published, it's a sensitive subject for both men and women and he may be having trouble coming to terms with it.

But if the article is about letting other women know that you're not an evil person for doing this then it's good. If it is as someone said above and she's trying to rub her ex-boyfriend's nose in it to spite him that's hardly going to help the pro-choice cause in the eyes of their usual readers. I can't really judge either way as I couln't bring myself to read something from OK!

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 29/09/2011 15:51

teafanatic, what makes you so sure it was to spite her ex? How about the possibility that she wanted women to know it's ok to have abortions, it doesn't make you a bad person?

teafanatic003 · 29/09/2011 15:21

Why would you say that ??

GetOrfMo1Land · 29/09/2011 15:19

I would say it is referring to the second part of your sentence, teaspoons.

teafanatic003 · 29/09/2011 15:17

I saw that too, I'm furious at the magazine I felt sick tbh ,
Its foul thats she basically had an abortion and put it on a mag cover to spite her her ex,

thats what stuck in my gut the whole thing makes me feel ill.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 29/09/2011 15:06

What teaspoons said.

UsingPredominantlyTeaspoons · 29/09/2011 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AMumInScotland · 29/09/2011 14:52

Unfortunately, they probably know their market, and people will actually buy it to read that story, whether to tut at how awful it is, or to think she's brave for being so honest. Or just because she's "famous" enough that they'd happily read about what she had for breakfast...

Yeni · 29/09/2011 14:36

Dirty Desmond doesn't care what sort of company it is.

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